AND LOWER EGYPT. i05 



ness and swelling of the fingers, and by the red- 

 ness and swelling of the ears. This is the leprosy 

 of the joints described by Hillary *. 



Whatever may be the nature of this leprosy, it 

 does not pass in Egypt for an infectious disorder; 

 it is nevertheless very prudent to have no com- 

 munication with those who are infected with it. 

 Lepers of every kind, who, without being common, 

 are not very scarce there, are not sequestered from 

 society as in Turkey. The Egyptians do not 

 observe any precaution to keep themselves from 

 contagion. They never imagine that they are in 

 any danger from this carelessness. 



The leper at Tahta was a gentleman quite at his 

 ease; he lived according to custom, v.ith his 

 family and his friends, and ate at the same table. 

 The joints which remained on his fingers, arjd the 

 greater part of which were ready to fall off, served 

 him to seize in the dishes, in the same manner as 

 the others with their entire fingers, the pieces of 

 meat which he carried to his mouth in order io 

 go back for more. It was not till after I had 

 advised them to it that his friends resolved to 

 break off so close a communication with a com- 

 panion so disgusting. 



* William Hillary's Observations on the Changes of the 

 Air, and the concomitant epidemic Diseases in the Island of 

 Barbadoes. — London, 1 759. 



Furthermore, 



